Software-defined wireless communication device

Abstract

A software-defined wireless communication device is disclosed that includes a hardware platform, which can be digital or analog, as well as platform software that manages the hardware profile and waveform software that manages the signal processing functions. The software-managed hardware profiles are decoupled from the signal processing functionality of the software. In this way, waveform software can be certified, for example for compliance with FCC emissions requirement, independently from the platform software and from the hardware on which the waveform software runs.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is directed to a wireless communications device which performs signal processing in portable application level software, and more particularly to a software-defined wireless communication device that decouples software-managed hardware profiles from the signal processing functionality of the software.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA software-defined wireless communications device, in particular a Software-Defined Radio (SDR), performs all of its signal processing in software.Since all of the processing is performed in software, a single communications device can be used for many purposes, simply by running a different program. For example, one device can be re-programmed to be an analog cellular phone, a digital phone, a cordless home phone or even a garage door opener or baby monitor.A software-defined wireless communications device, like the SDR, only requires software upgrades instead of expensive hardware production.Radiation emitted by RF devices...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

According to one aspect of the invention, the limits on a particular Waveform Software entity can be encoded as part of the authorization tag downloaded with the software. This is the tag, encrypted or encoded in some other robust means, that informs the communications device that the Waveform Software is authorized to execute on this platform. It is a desirable location to store the limits because the Platform Software decodes this authorization tag before it executes the Waveform Software, so it will have the information it needs to configure hardware limit mechanisms or software checks at the right time. Additionally, if there is a bug in the Waveform Software, this approach ensures that the limit values are not corrupted before they reach the Platform Software. Putting the limit values in a standard location opens them up to inspection. Finally, putting the limit values into the robust tag defends them against unauthorized modification, which is important because they directly control the safety issues of greatest concern.

The system can be designed to express the limits in high-level terms (frequency ranges in Hz, power in watts, etc.) to avoid requiring a particular hardware or software mechanism in the platform. In this way, the Waveform Software, although not been tested on that device, can be safely executed without posing a risk of excessive RF radiation or interference outside its approved frequency bands.

Problems solved by technology

A software-defined wireless communications device, like the SDR, only requires software upgrades instead of expensive hardware production.

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